A TEENAGER identified as one of Sandwell's most prolific young offenders was in police custody today after being arrested on suspicion of stealing a car.

A TEENAGER identified as one of Sandwell's most prolific young offenders was in police custody today after being arrested on suspicion of stealing a car.

The Black Country Mail revealed last Thursday that police were warning the public to be on their guard over 16-year-old Shane Hadlington.

Leaflets were distributed in the Tipton area about Hadlington because police said they had reason to believe he was breaching the conditions of a Criminal Anti- Social Behaviour Order.

Hadlington, of Princes End, Tipton, had been warned he had to stay out of trouble for the next five years or face the risk of a custodial sentence.

Breaching a CRASBO carries a sentence of up to five years in custody or a fine, or both.

Today Det Ch Insp Paul Marriott, of Sandwell North police operational command unit at West Bromwich, revealed that Hadlington had been arrested last night.

He said: "It appears that Hadlington was with another youth in the Dudley area.

"They were acting suspiciously in someone's back garden and police who were called to investigate found that a car, which had been stolen earlier last night from an address in Tipton, was parked nearby.

"Both youths were arrested at the scene and Hadlington is being questioned today on suspicion of being involved in car theft.

"If he is found guilty of that offence he faces a lengthy custodial sentence." Hadlington is one of 35 "priority and persistent offenders" on the Sandwell North police operational crime unit.

The 35 are believed to be responsible for a large proportion of crime in the borough.